Briefly

Posted: Tuesday, February 13, 2001

By The JUNEAU EMPIRE

Local girl reported missing

JUNEAU - The parents of Nicole Binkley, 16, have reported her missing to police. She was reported missing Monday, said Capt. Tom Porter of the Juneau Police Department, and officials want her returned to the Cornerstone juvenile shelter .

Posters were up Sunday at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and at various churches in the Mendenhall Valley announcing Binkley's status. Principal Deb Morse confirmed Binkley is a student at Juneau-Douglas High School.

"There is no indication of any foul play" associated with her disappearance, Porter said.

Sightings or leads should be called in to police at 586-0600.

Theft charge echoes earlier conviction

JUNEAU - Brad Bigelow, found guilty of second-degree theft from Valley Sentry Lumber last summer, has been charged with the same crime again.

Bigelow, 30, was discovered to be stealing from his employer again recently, served a summons for third-degree theft and arraigned before Judge Peter B. Froehlich last Thursday, according to court documents.

In the original charge last year, Bigelow, who had worked for Valley Lumber for 10 years and had risen to sales manager, was found to have transferred money to his personal debit or credit card beginning in July 1997 and ending in January 2000, according to an affidavit filed by Assistant District Attorney Sue McLean.

Dan Graves, general manager and part owner of Valley Lumber, allowed Bigelow to keep his job after the original offense, but has now fired him.

"We were pretty depressed about it," Graves said today. "But I think I would rather not discuss it until it comes to trial." No date has been set for trial, according to the district attorney's office. Bigelow finished his time for the first offense in December, and is on probation.